Dispensing and mixing apparatus



June 21, 1955 'r. H. RlZA 2,711,277

DI/SPENSING AND MIXING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig.5

Thomas H. Riza INVENTOR.

BY MW,

June 21, 1955 T H R z DISPENSING AND MIXING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 6, 1953 Thomas H. Rl'za I INVENTOR.

BY M% and June 21, 1955 T. H. RIZA 2,711,277

DISPENSING AND MIXING APPARATUS Filed March e, 1953 4 sheets-sheet svlao /a4 /72 84 /22 92 I82 I70 /0 44 F g. 6 88 7 Thomas H. RizaINVENTOR. I

June 21, 1955 z 2,711,277

DISPENSING AND MIXING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1953 54 Fig. 4

Thomas H. Riza INVENTOR.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in dispensing and mixing apparatus and the primaryobject of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for sprayingand mixing molasses with animal feed at a determined ratio orpercentage.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide adispensing and mixing apparatus that will thoroughly dispense and mixmolasses With animal feed and deliver the mixed ingredients into a sack.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sackingapparatus involving a vertically moving carriage that may be raised witha sack'thereon to a position where the sack will be filled with amixture of molasses and feed.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a dispensing andmixing apparatus including fluid driven means operatively connected tothe carriage so that the carriage may be moved downwardly at apredetermined rate whereby sacks of various lengths may be filled usingthe present dispensing and mixing apparatus.

Another feature of the present invention is the pro- 1 vision of a fluidsystem including a valve that is actuated into one position when thecarriage is raised so that a liquid will be sprayed into material beingsacked and which valve is actuated into a second position after a sackhas been filled in order to reduce to a minimum a liquid being sprayedinto the animal feed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing andmixing apparatus of the aforementioned character including a valveoperating means that is also connected to an electric motor so that apower driven feed agitating mechanism will be in operation only when asack is being filled with feed or the like.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a dispensingand mixing apparatus that is extremely simple and practical inconstruction, strong and reliable in use, and efficient and durable inoperatiominexpensive to manufacture, service and maintain, and otherwisewell adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended. Thesetogether with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully'hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the present invention with thecarriage raised and a spraying liquid being directed into the hopper asa sack on the carriage is filled with processed feed;

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top planview of Figure l; a Figure 4 is an enlarged detail longitudinal verticalsectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 ofFigure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of Figure l showing themanner in which the lever holding arm is 2,711,277 Patented June 21,1955 engaged with the frame and released from engagement withthe frame;t J

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of the valve unitused in the present invention;.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line 7--7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line 88 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view ofthe valve member; I

Figure 10 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the plane of section line 10-10 of Figure 9; v i IFigure 11 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the 11-11 of Figure 9; and

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the brake means and balancescale therein, used in the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purposeof'illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, and the numeral It) represents a frame structureincluding a pair of facing channel shaped uprights 12 and 12a thatslidably receive rollers 14 on the ends of upper and lower horizontalshafts 16 and 18 fixed to a verticalslidable carriage 20. The carriage20 is provided with 'an open top and open front and supports a suitableholding clamp 22 so that the sack or bag (not shown) may be readilyapplied to or removed from the carriage and held extended within thecarriage.

The upper major end of an inverted conical hopper 24 is telescoped overa mounting ring 26 and is removably secured to the ring 26 by fasteners28. Ring 26 is suitably removably secured to and between the upper endportions of the uprights 12 and 12a to'hold the hopper directly over thecarriage 20 with the cylindrical discharge neck portion 30 of the hopperparallel to and spaced an equal distance from the uprights 12 and12a.

A vertical agitator shaft'32 is rotatably supported by suitable bearingson the frame 10'and extends axially through the hopper 24 and the neckportion 30. The lower end of shaft 32 carries a double spiral bladedpacker 34 which is located within the neck portion 30. The shaft 32 alsosupports the hub 36' of a spider-like agitator 38 havingradiallyprojecting wire arms 40 that are bent upwardly and outwardly to formagitator fingers 42 which are located in the conical portion of thehopper 24. 1 An additional spider-like agitator 44 has its hub 46suitably fixed on shaft 32 overagitator 38. V The agitator 44 isprovided with radially projecting spreader arms 48 that will rotate inring 26 to spread material entering the hopper from alsuitable dischargechute C.

An electric motor 50 is suitably mounted on the upper end of frame It}with its armature shaft parallel to'the shaft 32. The armature shaft ofmotor 50 fixedly carries a multigrooved pulley v52 that is connected toa multi grooved pulley 54, fixed on shaft 32, by pulley 116M856. Themotor 50 is provided with a spring urged switch button 58 that ismounted on the upright 12 (Figure 1) for a purpose presently to bedescribed. V V V j Means is provided for urging the carriage 20 to itsraised position so thata sack 'held by clamp 22 willl betelescopedupwardly over the cylindrical portion 30 of hopper 24. Thismeanstcomprises ahorizontal spring tension shaft 60 that isjournaled forrotation in suitable bear.- ings carried by the uprights 12 and 12a.Shaft 60 fixedly supports pulleys 62 about which cables or ropes 64' arewound. The upper ends of theropes 64 are fixed to the pulleys 62 and thelower ends of the ropes 64' are plane of section line. C t a fixed tothe carriage 20, preferably to the upper shafts 16 of the carriage .20,as shown in Figure 2.

A horizontal stub shaft 66 is suitably rotatably supported by a bearingon the frame over the shaft and fixedly supports a sprocket 68 that isconnected to a sprocket 70 fixed on one end of shaft 60, by an endlesssprocket chain 72. A coil spring 74 has its upper ends suitablyadjustably secured to the upper end of frame 10 and its lower endeccentrically pivoted to sprocket 68 to constitute the means tensioningshafts 66 and 60 in order to urge the shaft 60 to its carriage raisingposition.

Brake means is provided for retaining the carriage 20 in its raisedposition until a predetermined amount of feed has been discharged intothe sack on the carriage. The brake means comprises a brake hand or ring76 engaged over the periphery of a wheel fixed on shaft 60. The brakeband may be tightened or loosened about the wheel and a foot pedal 78 isconnected by a flexible element 80 and pivot lever 81 to the brake bandto contact the latter about the wheel as the pedal is depressed. A scalebeam 82 pivoted on the frame is connected to the brake band and thelever 81 to retain the brake band contracted and in its brake applyingposition until a predetermined amount of feed has been placed in thesack on the carriage.

Means is provided for spraying a liquid, such as molasses, into thehopper when the carriage is raised so that the liquid can be mixed withmaterial placed in the hopper. This means comprises a vertical cylinder84 supported at the lower end of the frame and having a piston 86slidably therein. Conduits 88 and 90 extend from the upper and lowerends of the cylinder 84 and are connected to a valve unit 92 whosedetail structure is shown in Figures ,6-ll inclusive.

Valve unit 92 includes a cylindrical casing 94 and a cylindrical valvemember 96 rotatable in the casing and provided with a rigid stem 98 thatprojects outwardly through a packing gland 100 on the removable end wall102 of casing 94. Casing 94 is formed with upper and lower pairs ofdiametrically opposed nipples 104, 10.6, and 108, and the conduit 88being engaged with nipple 108 and the conduit 90 being engaged withnipple 186V 7 Valve member 96 is provided with longitudinally spacedradial ports 112 and 114 that are disposed at right angles to each otherand which communicate with the blind axial bore 116 in the valve member96. These ports are so located that when port 112 is in registry withnipple 108 (Figure 6) port 114 will be closed by the casing 94 (Figure7) and when port 114 is in registry with nipple 106 then port 112 willbe closed by the casing 94.

A pair of tubes 118 and 120 extend diametrically through the valvemember 96 and are disposed at right angles to each other and to theports 112 and 114, respectively. When port 112 is in registry withnipple 108, then tube 120 will be in registry with'nipples 104 and i106, and the ends of tube 118 will be closed by casing 94 (Figure 6).However, when the valve member 96 is rotated, one-quarter turn, toregister port 114 with nipple 106, then tube 118 will be in registrywith the nipples 108 and 110.

A pump 122 is mounted on the frame 10 and its outlet 124 is connected toa conduit 126 that is coupled to the sleeved end 128 of casing 94. Thepump reservoir 130 is connected to a conduit 132 that is attached tonipple 110 and to a liquid supply pipe 134 having a branch line 136 thatis coupled to conduit 126. A manually operated valve 138 is disposed inconduit 126 and a bleed conduit 140 extending from the valve unit 92 isalso provided with a manually operated valve 142 which is opened inorder to bleed the valve 92.

The valve member 96 has two positions, one position being when port 112is in registry with nipple 108 and tube 120 is in registry with nipples104, 106, as shown in Figure 6, and the second position being when port114 is in registry with nipple 106 and tube 118 is in registry 4 withnipples 108 and 110. When valve member 96 is positioned as shown inFigure .6, liquid directed from pump 122 will pass through bore 116,port 112, conduit 88, and into the upper end of cylinder 84 to movepiston 86 downwardly so that the liquid in cylinder 84 under piston 86will be forced through conduit 90, nipple 106, tube 120, nipple 104, andthen through a conduit 144 attached to nipple 104. The outer end ofconduit 144 is coupled to a spray head 146 which is supported in anysuitable manner within ring 26 to spray a'liquid downwardly into thehopper to be mixed with feed or the like placed into the hopper (Figure4).

When the valve member 96 is rotated to its second position with tube 118in registry with nipples 108 and 110, and with port 114 in registry withnipple 106, then the liquid (molasses) directed by pump 122 will passthrough conduit 126, bore 116, nipple 106, and conduit 90 into the lowerend of cylinder 84, raising piston 86 so that liquid in cylinder 84 overthe piston 86 will be forced through conduit 88, nipple-108, tube 118,nipple 110, conduit 132, and into reservoir 130.

Means is provided for rotating the valve member 96 to one or the otherof its two aforementioned positions. This means comprises a verticallyswingable lever 148 pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket 150clamped on conduit 126. a

The forward end of lever 148 is urged to a raised position by a spring152 terminally attached to the rear end of the lever 148 in a clamp 154on conduit 126. A pitman iink 15.6 carried by lever 148 is pivoted to arigid link 158 fixed to stem 98 .so that when the lever 148 is raised byspring 152, the valve member 96 will be in the non-spring position orits position whereby liquid from the pump will enter the lower end ofthe cylinder 84. However, when the lever 148 is lowered (Figure 1) thenthe valve member 96 will be disposed as shown in Figure 6 or itsspraying position so that liquid from pump 122 will enter the upper endof the cylinder 84.

The lower end of an operating arm 160 is pivoted to the lever 148 to beraised and lowered with the lever 148. The arm 160 fixedly supports adog 162 that'will engage under a dog 164 fixed to upright 12 in order toretain the lever 148 lowered. A earn 166 (Figure .5) fixed to shaft 60will ride against the offset upper endof arm 160 to urge the dog 162from dog 164 as the shaft 60 rotates to the carriage lowering positionso that spring 152 may urge the lever 148 upwardly.

A vertically swinging mount arm- 168 is pivotally secured to upright 12above the shaft 60 and supports a shaft 170 having a spring tensionedpulley 172 thereon. One end of a cable or rope 174 is fixed to thepulley 172 and the other end of the rope 174 is attached to theupstanding rod 176 of piston 86. A stepped series of juxtaposition gearsor gear unit 178 is fixed on shaft 60 under a series of juxtapositiongears or a gear unit 180 splined on shaft 170.

Arm 168 supports a horizontal rod' 182 (Figure 3) on which a bifurcatedgear adjuster 184 is slidably adjustably carried for moving a selectedone of the gears 180 into engagement with a selected one of the gears180 whereby the speed which the shaft 170 is driven by shaft 60 may becontrolled.

A rod 186 is pivoted to the lever 148 and extends upwardly through asleeve pivoted to arm 168. A-coil spring 74 embraces the upper end ofrod 186 and is biased between sleeve and abutment nut on the upper endof rod 186 to urge the arm 168 downwardly and the gear unit 189 intoengagement with the gear unit 178. As the lever 148 is swung upwardly,the rod 186 will also move upwardly to raise the arm 168 and disengagegear unit 180 from gear unit 178, whereupon the spring acting on pulley172 will rotate pulley 172 to wind rope 174 thereon.

When the carriage is forced downwardly during filling of the sackthereon, shaft 60 will be rotated and as gear ski 1,277

unit 178 is in mesh with gear unit 180, shaft 170 will be rotated sothat the rope 64 will unwind from the pulley 172. Carriage 20 will movedownwardly rather slowly as the sack on the carriage is filled withfeed.

Arm 168 is disposed directly under the switch button 58 aforementioned,so that as arm 168 is swung upwardly, it will press the switch button toa circuit open position to stop motor 50. However, as the arm 168 islowered and when the dog 162 is engaged under dog 164, the switch buttonwill be spring urged to a circuit closing position to permit operationof the motor 50.,

Obviously, the switch button 58 could be applied to the frame to beengaged by the arm 160 or the lever 148 to function in a similarcapacity.

In practical use of the present invention, it being as sumed that thecarriage 20 is lowered and that the lever 143 is raised, also the arm168 is raised and the'motor is not in operation. The pump 122 isoperating but the valve 96 is turned so that a liquid is being directedinto the lower end of the cylinder 84- from pump 122 with the excessliquid being forced back tothe reservoir 130 through conduits 126, 136,and 134. Also in the starting position, cable 174 is wound on pulley 172and piston 86 is raised.

After a sack has been placed on carriage and engaged with holder 22, theoperator releases pedal 78 to expand brake ring 76 whereupon spring 74will cause shaft 611 to rotate and ropes 64 will be wound on pulleys 62and carriage 26 will be pulled upwardly so that the upper end of thesack will engage upwardly over hopper portion 30. Then the lever 148 islowered by the operator until dog 162 engages under dog 164. As thelever 148 is lowered, arm 168 is pulled downwardly to release switchbutton 58 and permit the motor to drive shaft 32.

Also, as the lever 148 is lowered, valve member 96 is rotated to theposition shown in Figure 6 so that liquid directed by pump 122 would beforced into the upper end of cylinder 84 to lower piston 86. As thepiston 86 moves downwardly, the liquid in the cylinder under piston 86will be forced through conduit 91 nipple 1&6, tube 120, nipple 11M,conduit 144, and outwardly from spray head 146.

During downward movement of the piston 86, the pulley 172 and shaft 1'79are rotated gradually by shaft 61'), to unwind the rope 174, shaft 61)being rotated during descent of the carriage in order to drive shaftthrough gear units 1'78 and 181). During lowering of the carriage 2%,the shaft 69 is rotated and cam 166 rides against arm 160 to swing arm160 and dog 162 out of engagestroke (piston 86) is adjusted by the gearunit being adjusted with respect to gear unit 178 and by correlating thepiston 86 with 'graduation's on the outer force of cylinder 84 so thatthe ratio of molasses and feed may be proportioned. The flow of molassesinto the cylinder 84 can also be regulated by valve 138.

Dry feed may be placed into the sack on the carriage by merely closingvalve 138 when it is desired to sack dry feed. i

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A dispensing apparatus comprising .a frame, a carriage verticallyslidably carried by the frame and having an upper and a lower position,means operatively connected to the carriage for raising the same to itsupper position, a hopper supported onthe frame over the car-' ment withdog 164 and spring 152 urges the lever 148 upwardly changing the valvemember 96 to its initial position whereupon the piston 86 will be movedupwardly and the rope 174 wound upon the pulley 172, the latter beingspring tensioned. The operator then depresses pedal 78 and the brakeband 76 will hold the carriage in the lowered position'until the filledsack is removed and replaced by an empty sack.

Obviously, any suitable means may be employed in conjunction with thechute C so that a predetermined quantity of feed or the like will bedischarged into the hopper when the carriage is raised and a sack isdisposed about the lower discharge end of the hopper. For example, aslide valve may be applied to the discharge end of the chute C which canbe actuated by an operator standing in front of the apparatus. When thefeed or material leaving chute C is discharged into the hopper 24, it isthoroughly mixed and agitated and the molasses or liquid sprayed intothe hopper is also mixed with the feed so that the feed entering thesack will have a mixture of feed and molasses. The proportion ofmolasses mixed with the feed may be regulated by the valve unit or by alocation of the cam 166 so that it will release the arm 160 after apredetermined quantity of liquid has been discharged into the hopper.The length of the piston riage and adapted to supply a bag on thecarriage with material when the carriage is in its upper position, aspray system including a spray head disposed in the hopper and a valvehaving a first position when liquid is directed through the spray headand a second position when liquid is not being directed through thespray head, a lever attached to the valve for moving the valve to itsfirst or second positions, and means operatively connecting said leverto said carriage raising means for actuating the valve to its firstpositionwhen the carriage is in its upper posi tion and for actuatingthe valve to its second position as the carriage moves downwardly fromits upper position.

2. A dispensing apparatus comprising a frame, a car riage verticallyslidably carried by the frame and having an upper and a lowerposition,.means operatively connected to the carriage for raising thesame to its upper position, a hopper supported on the frame over the carriage and adapted to supply a bag on the carriage with 1 material whenthe carriage is inits upper position, a spray system including a sprayhead disposed in the hop. per and a valve having a first position whenliquid is directed through the spray head and a second position whenliquid is not'being directed through the spray head, a lever attached tothevalve for moving the valve to its first or second positions, andmeans operatively connecting said lever to. said carriage raising meansfor actuating the valve to its first position when the carriage is inits upper position andfor actuating the valve to its second position asthe carriage moves downwardly fromits upper position, said carriageraising means including a spring tensioned shaft, said shaft beingspring tensioned as the carriage is moved downwardly. p V

3. A dispensing apparatus comprising a frarne,a carriage verticallyslidably carried by the frame and having an upper and lower position,means operatively connected to the carriage for raising the same to itsupper position, a hopper supported on the frame over the carriage andadapted to supply a bag on the carriage with material a when thecarriage is in its upper position, a spray'system including a spray headdisposed in the hopper and a'valve having a first position when liquidis directed through the spray head and a second position when liquid isnot being directed through the spray head, a lever attached to the valvefor moving the valve to its first or second positions, and meansoperatively connecting said lever to said carriage raising means foractuating the valve to its first position when the carriage is in itsupper position and for actuating the valve to its second positionas thecarriage moves downwardly from its upper position, said carriage raisingmeans including a spring tensioned shaft,

said shaftbeing spring tensioned as the carriage is moved downwardly,and a foot operated brake means engaging said shaft to retain thecarriage in its lower position.

4. A dispensing apparatus comprising a frame, a carriage verticallyslidably carried by. the frame and having an upper and lower position,means operatively connected to the carriage for raising the sameto itsupper position, a hopper supported on the frame over the carriage andadapted to supply a bag on the carriage with material when the carriageis in its upper position, a spray system including a spray head disposedin the hopper and a valve having a first position when liquid isdirected through the spray head and a second position when liquid is notbeing directed through the spray head, a lever attached to the valve formoving the valve to its first or second positions, and means operativelyconnecting said lever to said car riage raising means for actuating thevalve to its first position when the carriage is in its upper positionand for actuating the valve to its second position as the carriage movesdownwardly from its upper position, said carriage raising meansincluding a spring tensioned shaft, said valve actuating means includinga spring raised lever, an arm pivoted to said lever and extendingupwardly beyond said shaft, a dog on said arm, a complemental dog onsaid frame engaging the dog on the arm to retain the lever lowered and acam on said shaft for riding against said arm to release the dogswhereupon the lever will be raised.

5. A dispensing apparatus comprising a frame, a carriage verticallyslidably carried by the frame and having an upper and lower position,means operatively connected to the carriage for raising the same to itsupper position, a hopper supported on the frame over the carriage andadapted to supply a bag on the carriage with material electric motoroperat-ively connected to said agitator and having a switch actuated tocircuit opening and closing positions by said valve actuating means.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said spray system includes acylinder having upper and lower ends both of which are connected to saidvalve, a piston in said cylinder that is urged downwardly as liquidunder pressure enters the upper end of said cylinder and which piston isurged upwardly as liquid under pressure enters the lower end of thecylinder, said spray head being in communication with the lower end ofsaid cylinder when the valve is in its first position and when liquidunder pressure is directed into the upper end of said cylinder so thatas the piston is forced downwardly, liquid in the cylinder under thepiston will be forced through the spray head.

7. A dispensing apparatus comprising a frame, a vertically slidable bagholding carriage carried by the frame and having an upper position and alower position, a hopper supported on the frame over the carriage fordelivering material to a bag on the carriage when the latter is in itsupper position, a spring tensioned shaft carried by the frame andconnected to the carriage for urging the carriage to its upper position,a valve having a first position and a second position, a cylinder havingupper and lower ends connected to the valve, a pump operativelyconnected to the cylinder through the valve, said pump directing aliquid into the upper end of the cylinder through the valve when thevalve is in its first position and said pump directing a liquid into thelower end of the cylinder when the valve is in its second position, a

spray head in the hopper and connected to the valve to be incommunication with the lower end of said cylinder when the valve is inits first position, apiston in the cylinder for directing a liquid inthe cylinder under the piston through the valve and spray head when thevalve is in its first position, means connected to the valve for movingthe valve selectively to its first and second positions, and meansoperatively connecting said shaft to said last named means for movingsaid valve to its first position when the carriage is in its upperposition and for actuating said 75 8. A dispensing apparatus comprisinga frame, a vertically slidable bag holding carriage carried by the frameand having an upper position and a lower position, a hopper supported onthe frame over the carriage for delivering material to a bag on thecarriage when the latter is in its upper position, a spring tensionedshaft carried by the frame and connected to the carriage for urging thecarriage to its upper position, a valve having a first position and asecond position, a cylinder having upper and lower ends connected to thevalve, a pump operatively connected to the cylinder through the valve,said pump directing a liquid into the upper end of the cylinder throughthe valve when the valve is in its first position and said pumpdirecting a liquid into the lower end .of

the cylinder when the valve is in its second position, a

spray head in the hopper and connected to the valve to be incommunication with the lower end of said cylinder when the valve is inits first position, a piston in the cylinder for directing a liquid inthe cylinder under the piston through the valve and spray head when thevalve is in its first position, and means connected to the valve formoving the valve selectively to its first and second positions, meansengaging said valve moving means to retain the valve in its firstposition, and means carried by the shaft engaging said valve movingmeans to release the retaining means as the carriage moves downwardly.

9. A dispensing apparatus comprising a frame, a vertically slidable bagholding carriage carried by the frame, and having an upper position anda lower position, a hopper supported on the frame over the carriage fordelivering material to a bag on the carriage when the latter is in itsupper position, a spring tensioned shaft carried by the frame andconnected to the carriage for urging the carriage to its upper position,a valve having a first position and a second position, a cylinder havingupper and lower ends connected to the valve, a pump operativelyconnected to the cylinder through the valve, said pump directing aliquid into the upper end of the cylinder through the valve when thevalve is in its first position and said pump directing a liquid into thelower end of cylinder when the valve is in its second position, a sprayhead in the hopper and connected to the valve to be in communicationwith the lower end of said cylinder when the valve is in its firstposition, a piston in the cylinder for directing a liquid in thecylinder under the piston through the valve and spray head when thevalve is in its first position, a vertically swingable lever operativelyconnected to the valve and having a raised position to move the valve toits second position and a lowered position to move the valve to itsfirst position, spring means urging the lever to its raised position,means retaining the lever in its lower position against action of saidspring, and means carried by the shaft releasing said retaining means asthe carriage is lowered.

10. A dispensing apparatus comprising a frame, a vertically slidable bagholding carriage carried by the frame, and having an upper position anda lower position, a hopper supported on the frame over the carriage fordeliver-ing material to a bag on the carriage when the latter is in itsupper position, a spring tensioned shaft carried by the frame andconnected to the carriage for urging the carriage to its upper position,a valve having a first position and a second position, a cylinder havingupper and lower ends connected to the valve, a pump operativelyconnected to the cylinder through the valve, said pump directing aliquid into the upper end of the cylinder through the valve when thevalve is in its first position and said pump directing a liquid into thelower end of cylinder when the valve is in its second position, a sprayhead in the hopper and connected to the valve to be in communicationwith the lower end of said cylinder when the valve is in its firstposition, a piston in the cylinder for directing a liquid in thecylinder under the piston through the valve and spray head when thevalve is in its first position, a vertically swingable lever operativelyconnected to the valve and having a raised position to move the valve toits second position and a lowered position to move the valve to itsfirst position, spring means urging the lever to its raised position, anupwardly extending arm pivoted to the lever, a dog fixed to said arm, acomplemental dog fixed to the frame engaging the dog of the arm when thelever is in its lowered position, and means carried by said shaftengaging the arm, during rotation of the shaft in response to loweringof said carriage, to urge the dog of the arm out of engagement with thedog on the frame, whereupon the lever will be urged by said spring toits raised position.

11. The combination of claim 10 and an agitator in the hopper, anelectric motor operatively connected to the agitator and having a switchactuated to circuit opening and closing positions as the arm isselectively raised and lowered with said lever.

12. A dispensing apparatus comprising a frame, a vertically slidable bagholding carriage carried by the frame and having an upper position and alower position, a hopper supported on the frame over the carriage fordelivering material to a bag on the carriage when the latter is in itsupper position, a spring tensioned shaft carried by the frame andconnected to the carriage for urging the carriage to its upper position,a valve having a first spray head in the hopper and connected to thevalve to be in communication with the lower end of said cylinder whenthe valve is in its first position, a piston in the cylinder fordirecting a liquid in the cylinder under the piston through the valveand spray head when the valve is in its first position and meansconnected to the valve for moving the valve selectively to its first andsecond positions, a rod attached to said piston and extending upwardlythrough the cylinder, a spring tensioned pulley having a cable thereonattached to the rod, an arm vertically swingably attaching the pulley tothe frame, means operatively connecting the arm to the valve movingmeans to raise the arm when the valve is in its second position and forlowering the arm when the valve is in its first position, and meansoperatively connecting the pulley to the shaft when the arm is in itslowered position so that the pulley will rotate with the shaft to unwindthe cable from the pulley during lowering of the carriage.

No references cited.

